Applied Pulsed Power, Inc. was founded in 1990, with the mission of developing products for industrial applications where pulsed power technology has compelling advantages over existing methods.

APP began its existence developing a prototype compact point source x-ray source for micro-lithography with DARPA funding.  In 1992 APP began a multi-year collaboration with Cornell University and Sandia National Laboratories for the development of Ion Beam Surface Treatment (IBEST) technology for industrial surface treatment. APP’s MAP I™ ion diode system is the heart of a unique, high throughput, industrial surface treatment system. QM Technologies in Albuquerque, New Mexico, mates APP’s MAP I system with a 400 kV modulator, producing a new thermal surface treatment that uses intense ion beams to enhance hardness, corrosion resistance and smoothness of surfaces, without using chemicals or solvents. A commercial prototype of this system has been in operation since 1997 and is currently being used to treat over 5,000 parts per week.

To further the development of reliable, robust pulsed power systems, APP has been developing high speed, high voltage, high current, solid state switches and systems. The compact switches can be used to replace spark gaps, thyratrons and krytrons in existing and new applications. We have incorporated these switches in pulsed magnet drivers and trigger generators. We have developed an economical 24 kV, 10 kA switch to replace spark gaps used in medical equipment.

APP has received a contract from the Department of Energy to examine the potential of our pulsed plasma source technology (the heart of the MAP system) as an ion source for the Heavy Ion Fusion Program. APP is also developing this technology for NASA propulsion applications and for potential commercial plasma processing applications.

APP has designed several terawatt-level pulsed power generators for research programs at Cornell University.  FIREX, a 1.2 MV, 800 kA, 100 ns generator was designed for high energy ion ring experiments funded by DOE’s fusion power program.  The 1MA, 1 MV COBRA high current generator was designed and built by APP for the new Center for the Study of Pulsed-Power-Driven High Energy Density Plasma at Cornell University.

 

Some Company Milestones